Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
(29 Dec 2012, 9:26 pm)Brandon Thanks for sharing! I'd much rather that viaduct was still in place at the southern end of the bridge instead of that ghastly roundabout. That gyratory system looked like it could have handled traffic much better than the roundabout does today. I read recently on the Skyscraper City Forums I think it was, that traffic on the Queen Alexandra Bridge is expected to reduce by as much as 42% once the new bridge is opened. That should help traffic congestion tremendously.
Back to Metro, the timetable is completely finished now, I've also got the Northern Rail Newcastle-Heworth-Sunderland times in too. I had been considering putting in Dunston, MetroCentre and Blaydon too, but I don't want to make it look more complicated than it already is. If any members are interested in these times, then I'll put them in; but to be honest, it'll be easy enough for anyone to insert a couple of extra rows into the spreadsheet and insert as many or few extra stations as they please.
I'm not 100% convinced that the timetable is completely accurate yet, I'd like to be able to say for sure that every time at every station is correct. I'd be rather embarrassed to say the least if I find a mistake after I've uploaded it. I'll go through one last time tomorrow when I'm a bit more wide awake. Will definitely be uploading tomorrow though.
(29 Dec 2012, 9:26 pm)Brandon Thanks for sharing! I'd much rather that viaduct was still in place at the southern end of the bridge instead of that ghastly roundabout. That gyratory system looked like it could have handled traffic much better than the roundabout does today. I read recently on the Skyscraper City Forums I think it was, that traffic on the Queen Alexandra Bridge is expected to reduce by as much as 42% once the new bridge is opened. That should help traffic congestion tremendously.
Back to Metro, the timetable is completely finished now, I've also got the Northern Rail Newcastle-Heworth-Sunderland times in too. I had been considering putting in Dunston, MetroCentre and Blaydon too, but I don't want to make it look more complicated than it already is. If any members are interested in these times, then I'll put them in; but to be honest, it'll be easy enough for anyone to insert a couple of extra rows into the spreadsheet and insert as many or few extra stations as they please.
I'm not 100% convinced that the timetable is completely accurate yet, I'd like to be able to say for sure that every time at every station is correct. I'd be rather embarrassed to say the least if I find a mistake after I've uploaded it. I'll go through one last time tomorrow when I'm a bit more wide awake. Will definitely be uploading tomorrow though.
As promised - the complete Metro timetable (including Northern Rail services between Sunderland, Heworth and Newcastle).
It's not been without its ups and downs though!
I originally used the "all stops" function on the Traveline Journey planner, but after a third of the way though, I came to realise that there were slight discrepancies between these times and the ones that Nexus publishes. I've gone back through and corrected these mistakes, but unfortunately I cannot guarantee that I've caught them all. If there are any errors remaining, which I'm pretty sure there aren't! - they will only be out by one minute. If an error does come up, please do get in touch and I'd be more than happy to upload a corrected version!
I had a bit of bother with the Coast line to St James. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how there could be more than one train at St James Station at the same time. For example, during evenings and Sundays, trains appear to take a 15 minute layover. I thought I had messed the times up and ended up going back through them all again. Had a bit of a revelation though. I had always just assumed that St James had only one platform; but after a search on Flickr, it actually turns out it has two platforms! That certainly explained a lot!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiseman2007/6654556191/ (Anon Mouse - Gary)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25962069@N07/2566894185/ (Bluebottle Flyer - Mark Appleyard) - That's an old photo, been years since the Yellow Line went to South Hylton! Apparently the lines to South Hylton and South Shields were swapped to provide a more even number of stations on each line. So if there was a delay on the rather long Yellow Line, it would affect fewer stations on the route to South Shields than to Sunderland and South Hylton. I seem to remember the first train of the day from Sunderland always having operated direct to Airport anyway. To this day, there are actually a few early morning trips from Regent Centre that run through to South Shields as Yellow Line trains instead of South Hylton. Perhaps it has something to do with the way the trains are stabled at South Gosforth depot, preventing a few trips from starting at Longbenton instead.
Some other interesting things have come up too. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, what should be the xx13 from South Hylton departs at xx12 instead, passing Sunderland at xx22 and Pelaw at xx42. You wouldn't think that one minute would make such a difference, but the Northern Rail service that leaves Sunderland at xx30 arrives at Heworth at xx42, which is the same time as the Metro in front pulls in at Pelaw! It does seem that the Sunderland line is definitely being pushed to its limits in terms of capacity! The timetable I have included doesn't even include the freight trains or the Grand Central empty stock movements between Sunderland and Heaton Train Yard via Newcastle!
On the timetable, I have included every train time during the day, instead of writing the "minutes past each hour," just so the option is there for members to do that if they'd prefer a slighter smaller version, rather than an enthusiast having to write in the full set of times themselves. After all, it's far easier to delete the times than to write them in!
The Northern Rail timetable is only valid until 18 May 2013. It's been rumoured on the Skyscraper City forums that more trains will begin calling
at Blaydon and Dunston. If the demand is there for it, I may include more Northern Rail stations in this timetable when a new timetable comes into force in May.
Keep in mind that this timetable will change on Public Holidays - best to contact Traveline, Nexus or Northern Rail with regards to these days.
Awww cheers!
If you wanted it in PDF format, I think this download lets you do that -
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index....crobat_pro&loc=us
It gives you a months free trial, but after my trial was finished a few weeks ago I got hounded with pop-ups trying to get me to buy it. I ended up un-installing it after that!
(30 Dec 2012, 10:16 pm)Brandon Awww cheers!
If you wanted it in PDF format, I think this download lets you do that -
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index....crobat_pro&loc=us
It gives you a months free trial, but after my trial was finished a few weeks ago I got hounded with pop-ups trying to get me to buy it. I ended up un-installing it after that!
(30 Dec 2012, 10:16 pm)Brandon Awww cheers!
If you wanted it in PDF format, I think this download lets you do that -
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index....crobat_pro&loc=us
It gives you a months free trial, but after my trial was finished a few weeks ago I got hounded with pop-ups trying to get me to buy it. I ended up un-installing it after that!
Very interesting article in the Chronicle today, especially this part of it -
Plans for the future
EVEN before work has finished on the nine-year regeneration project Metro bosses at Nexus are looking for what happens in the decade after that.
They are currently considering the next expansion of the system, though the days of multi-million pound Government hand outs are likely to have returned by then.
The Metro could be expanded to new parts of the region after transport bosses unveiled a decade worth of expansion plans.
New city centre trams could be introduced as part of long-term plans being considered by the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority.
Nine new lines, a mixture of trains, trams and special bus routes, are to be put before the board next week, with members being told they have a “once in a generation” opportunity to radically change the future of the rail system.
The plans include the potential for a new tram train line travelling from Newcastle city centre to the west end, a section of Tyneside not connected to the Metro system.
Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2GlfF92WZ
Got the Sunderland metro at about ten to four this evening at Haymarket. Once passengers had boarded at Monument, the driver made an announcement over the tannoy. He was making reference to someone who was taking a photo of the approaching metro at Monument and used a flash.
The driver said that not only is he not supposed to be taking photos of metro unless he has a permit; the fact he used a flash in an underground station is "downright stupid" - in his words - and can "dazzle drivers". Bet whomever it was felt pretty stupid after! I certainly wouldn't condone taking photos without a permit; but if you're going to try, then at least do it discretionately by not using a flash! Dangerous more than anything.
Until I started using the Metro as often as I do now, I thought that someone was taking a photo of every train I got on because I kept seeing flashes. It turns out that there seem to be these funny lights that flash just like a camera would as a train is leaving an underground station.
Nexus do seem to be very strict about photography though.
(03 Jan 2013, 6:03 pm)Brandon Got the Sunderland metro at about ten to four this evening at Haymarket. Once passengers had boarded at Monument, the driver made an announcement over the tannoy. He was making reference to someone who was taking a photo of the approaching metro at Monument and used a flash.
The driver said that not only is he not supposed to be taking photos of metro unless he has a permit; the fact he used a flash in an underground station is "downright stupid" - in his words - and can "dazzle drivers". Bet whomever it was felt pretty stupid after! I certainly wouldn't condone taking photos without a permit; but if you're going to try, then at least do it discretionately by not using a flash! Dangerous more than anything.
Until I started using the Metro as often as I do now, I thought that someone was taking a photo of every train I got on because I kept seeing flashes. It turns out that there seem to be these funny lights that flash just like a camera would as a train is leaving an underground station.
Nexus do seem to be very strict about photography though.
(03 Jan 2013, 6:03 pm)Brandon Got the Sunderland metro at about ten to four this evening at Haymarket. Once passengers had boarded at Monument, the driver made an announcement over the tannoy. He was making reference to someone who was taking a photo of the approaching metro at Monument and used a flash.
The driver said that not only is he not supposed to be taking photos of metro unless he has a permit; the fact he used a flash in an underground station is "downright stupid" - in his words - and can "dazzle drivers". Bet whomever it was felt pretty stupid after! I certainly wouldn't condone taking photos without a permit; but if you're going to try, then at least do it discretionately by not using a flash! Dangerous more than anything.
Until I started using the Metro as often as I do now, I thought that someone was taking a photo of every train I got on because I kept seeing flashes. It turns out that there seem to be these funny lights that flash just like a camera would as a train is leaving an underground station.
Nexus do seem to be very strict about photography though.
I always thought the permit thing was about taking photos/videos on metro (inside), not of metro (outside) - but I seem to be mistaken. I'm still non-the-wiser on whether you're allowed to take photos of Metro trains on public property or not - it's all rather confusing to me!
Here's links to a couple of other forums about the issue:
http://railways.national-preservation.co...phers.html
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26374
Think I'll write to them to see what they have to say. If they tell me that I do need to retrieve some sort of permit, I will ask in advance for some sort of e-mail copy to be sent as an attachment.
If this is not allowed as they have to see me in-person, then I shall take photos without a permit. It's really discouraging for members of the public to be a rail enthusiast if they have to go through a long and dwindling process in order to receive a permit.
I even read on one of the links that even if you do retrieve it, you have to spend it alongside a member of Nexus' staff? But here's the punchline... For £9 an hour?!
Good one, Nexus.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
edit - looks like the replacement bus service is operating all the way to Shiremoor! - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2HOlE1P7F
(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
edit - looks like the replacement bus service is operating all the way to Shiremoor! - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2HOlE1P7F
(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
edit - looks like the replacement bus service is operating all the way to Shiremoor! - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2HOlE1P7F
Cheers I think it is!
I thought I'd seen a photo very recently!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrahamm/8273747541/ (Daniel Graham)
(08 Jan 2013, 7:59 pm)tyresmoke(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
edit - looks like the replacement bus service is operating all the way to Shiremoor! - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2HOlE1P7F
Probably Volvo B9TL LJ58GCF which is a tri-axle decker with Optare Olympus body?
(08 Jan 2013, 7:59 pm)tyresmoke(08 Jan 2013, 7:52 pm)Brandon I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that £9 bit! :s
A replacement bus service was operating between South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends this afternoon, which continued into the early evening peak-time period.
I only saw one of the replacement buses; it was a rather good-looking, modern TGM vehicle! I don't know the reg or make but I've seen this bus a few times at Four Lane Ends on a morning where it sometimes operates the Scholars 115 which it shares with Arriva. Kind of looks like an Optare double-decker like an Olympus or something.
First time in over three weeks I decided to catch the 55 instead of the Metro, and then I miss the chance of travelling on that beast of a vehicle; gutted isn't the word! On Facebook, Tyne and Wear Metro claim that there were six buses operating despite someone claiming to have only seen one, and then say that buses should be running at a 15 minute frequency. I wouldn't have thought South Gosforth - Longbenton - Four Lane Ends would require as great as six buses to run at a 15 minute frequency!
Anyway, news article here - http://tyneandwear.sky.com/news/article/52174
edit - looks like the replacement bus service is operating all the way to Shiremoor! - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-eas...z2HOlE1P7F
Probably Volvo B9TL LJ58GCF which is a tri-axle decker with Optare Olympus body?
Cheers Dan! Looks like we both posted a link to your photo at pretty much the same time
If I see this bus laying over at Four Lane Ends on a morning before its Scholars run and I have time, I'll try to ask the driver if I'd be allowed inside for a few photos. I can't seem to find any interior photos on Flickr. 9 times out of 10 though it's an Arriva Volvo in United livery running the 115, but that particular TGM bus does sneak out occasionally!
(08 Jan 2013, 8:32 pm)Brandon Cheers Dan! Looks like we both posted a link to your photo at pretty much the same time
If I see this bus laying over at Four Lane Ends on a morning before its Scholars run and I have time, I'll try to ask the driver if I'd be allowed inside for a few photos. I can't seem to find any interior photos on Flickr. 9 times out of 10 though it's an Arriva Volvo in United livery running the 115, but that particular TGM bus does sneak out occasionally!
(08 Jan 2013, 8:32 pm)Brandon Cheers Dan! Looks like we both posted a link to your photo at pretty much the same time
If I see this bus laying over at Four Lane Ends on a morning before its Scholars run and I have time, I'll try to ask the driver if I'd be allowed inside for a few photos. I can't seem to find any interior photos on Flickr. 9 times out of 10 though it's an Arriva Volvo in United livery running the 115, but that particular TGM bus does sneak out occasionally!
Quite a bit of disruption this morning, particularly on the Sunderland line. Apparently there was a points failure near Brockley Whins.
I nearly got off the bus at the Wheatsheaf and walked down to St Peters instead because the bus was running a few minutes late, but I'm glad I chanced it and stayed on till Sunderland where I would have been warmer. Arrived for the 06:14 metro, announcement guy reckons it would be four minutes late - fair do's I suppose. A few minutes later that became 8 minutes late, then 20 minutes late. It ended up arriving almost 25 minutes late.
We ended up having a 15 minute wait at Seaburn, and another 15-20 minute wait at East Boldon. At East Boldon, an announcement on the station platform announced that all trains are suspended Pelaw-South Hylton and no bus replacement service would be operating. I very nearly got off the metro then to call a taxi, and a few people actually did. 30 seconds later or so, the driver announces that the train would be able to continue to Pelaw in a few minutes. I appreciate that the ice and cold weather causes disruption, but it's the conflicting announcements that I think could be improved upon.
It's the same at Sunderland; the guy bends over backwards giving very regular updates and apologising profusely for delays to the 06:20 Northern Rail service to Hartlepool, and a ridiculous amount of updates on the 06:10 Tyne and Wear Metro service to South Hylton, but there were only three updates for the 06:14 Tyne and Wear Metro service to Airport. I've never even anyone waiting for the 06:10 service to South Hylton before.
Nexus apparently only subsidise the Northern Rail service between Newcastle and Sunderland. So I don't understand why they always give updates on the 06:10 service from Sunderland to Hartlepool but never any updates at all for the 06:45 Grand Central service to London. And that's not just today either.
Ended up at work an hour later than I wanted to, so had to put in that hour at the end of the day which I wasn't very happy about. Hopefully it'll not happen again!
I'll write an email to Nexus asking about these announcements. I just feel sorry for the people who listened to the advice that all trains had been suspended and then left, only for the driver to announce almost immediately after that we'd be moving soon. Driver was fabulous though; I can't thank him enough for keeping us informed throughout.
I had heard on the radio this morning that all Metros were suspended from Pelaw to South Hylton - and that was at around 07:30am!
I wondered why, as I don't believe a reason was given on-air.
Last month (around the 21st or so), I remember that all the Metros were really bad then. The announcement system said that the next Metro to Airport was actually delayed by 40 minutes, and that multiple Metros to South Hylton were arriving all at the same time, so they'd have to use both stations on either side.
It was a chaotic mess, and there were no staff supervising the station at all. After a further 30 minutes or so of several people listening to the announcements and others getting on board the Metros that had arrived at Platform 3 (or 2 - whichever it is Airport-bound) and a complaint made to the Northern Rail staff upstairs by a few people, ONE member of staff who wasn't a part of Nexus' team came downstairs and said that the announcements were wrong, and those Metros on the platform we were on are going to Airport, and not South Hylton as the announcements had been saying.
I was reaaaaaally annoyed that day - as was the woman who was there for over an hour with me.